Wireworking machine



March s, 1938. E. A. F'RANTZ 24 10,793

WIREWORKING MACHINE Original Filed March 51, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

- EA.FRANTZ I ATTORNEY.

Mmh s, 193s.- E. A. FRANTZ 0,793

WIREWORKING MACHINE Original Filed March 51, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 1 INVENTOR.

.E AlTI MTL ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Substituted for (abandoned) application Serial No. 118,422, March 31, 1934. This application November 1, 1935, Serial No. 47,843

10 Claims.

My invention relates to wire working machines and more particularly to a'machine for forming bale tie buckles from wire; and the object is to provide machines for this purpose with the mini- 6 mum number of parts and which is inexpensive to make and run.

Another object is to provide a wire working machine with a common shaft adapted to continuously rotate with a plurality of wheels and cams that direct and form the bends of the buckle and then sever the same from the wire stock.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a wire working machine having a combined die, holder, and cutter for the wire.

An advantage of this invention is that the simplicity of the mechanism permits the operation of a battery of machines with only the attention of one operator.

Another advantage of this invention is that the adaptation of the machine to operate continuously eliminates considerable wear usually found in machines where the parts are driven intermittently.

Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, shown with a portion of the top removed to more clearly illustrate the parts: thereof.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective View of a portion of the machine, showing the elements 35 used in bending the wire.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the various portions of the rotation of the common shaft used in bending the wire in its various angles to form the buckle.

4 Fig. 5 is a plan view of a die used in the machine for forming the rectangular portion of the buckle.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the buckle.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the portion of the machine used in guiding, directing, and forcing the wire to the point of forming the same.

Fig. 8 is a detail of that portion of the machine used in holding the wire so that the same may be bent to form the buckle. This view also illustrates the combined die, holder, and knife for severing the buckle from the wire stock.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the portion of the machine used in bending the wire aroundthe die shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the portion of the machine used in bending the wire around the combination die shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of a portion of the machine showing a variation in the structure of the 5 same for forming the wire into a square form in cross section, as it is being fed into the bending portion of the machine.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the mechanism used in forming the wire around the die shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view of the combination die, showing the method of bending the wire in the formation of the buckle.

Fig. 15 is an inverted plan view of the combination die, holder, and cutter.

Figs. 16, 1'7, and 18 are side elevations of the lower portion or holding, forming, and cutting portions of the combination unit shown in Fig. 15.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

The machine consists of a base frame I having a drive shaft 2 journaled therein. The shaft 2 is provided with a drive pulley 3 or other suitable medium for motive power. The shaft 2 is provided with a cogwheel 4 keyed thereto and adapted to mesh with and drive a gear wheel 5. The wheel 5 is keyed to a shaft 6 which is journaled in the frame I.

The shaft 6 is provided with a plurality of cams keyed thereto which function to operate the various contacting members with the wire for forming and severing the same from the wire stock. The shaft 6 is also provided with a feed wheel l which is made rigid with the same and adapted 3 to force the wire into the machine.

The feed wheel 1 is provided with a groove 8, in its outer periphery, in which the wire is directed to travel, as shown in Figs. '7, 11, and 12. An idler feed wheel 9 is resiliently rotatably journaled in the frame I of the machine and adapted to engage feed wheel I. This wheel 9 is also provided with a similar groove in its outer periphery which is adapted to cooperate with the wheel l to force the wire into the machine. A portion of the groove 8 of the wheel I is made of less depth than the rest of the groove, and this portion l0 engages the wire and grips the same between the two wheels 1 and 9 and forces the wire to move in the direction of the travel of the wheel 1. The object of forming the groove 8 in various depths permits the wheel I to rotate a portion of its turn without causing a movement of the wire, thus permitting continuous rotation of the wheel with only an intermittent movement of the wire;

a the wire when. the same has been fed into the ment with the wire.

or, as the wheel rotates the wire will be intermittently fed to the machine. Each of the wheels '3 9 is provided with an integral face gear wheel which are intermeshed to insure perfect cooperation of the feed portions of the wheel.

The idler wheel 9 rotatably mounted in an arm 5 i which is resiliently mounted in the frame I. The arm ll serves as the bearing for the wheel 8 and its face gear l2. One end of the arm H is pivotally attached to an extension bracket E3 of the machine, and the other end of the arm is connected to the machine frame by means of a coil spring M. The spring I4 is adapted to bear against the arm i l in such a manner. as to exert pressure of the wheel 9 against the Wire which passes betwen the two wheels? and'fi.

A portion of the frame I of the machine is formed to serve as a track for the wire as it is forced into the machine. machine is made rigid with the base or frame I of the machine and is also formed to serve as a bearing surface for the various members of the machine. A stop for the wire is adjustably mounted on a bracket l6 which is-secured to the frame of the machine and which is provided with an adjustable blocki'l'bolted thereto. The block ll'is adapted to be moved to or from the wire I8- to vary the distance that the wire may be forced into the machine.

When the wire is fed into the machine, by means of the wheels '5 and 9, it will contact with the stop block ll simultaneously with the time in which the groove 8-" of the wheel 1 passes beyond such a position as to bind the wirel8between the two feed. Wheels I and 9. Upon contact of the wire l3 with the stop, a retaining member 7 28 is forced down on the wire and adapted to hold the same in a secure manner so that it maybe bent into the desired shape to form a buckle. The member 2llconsists of a bar which is jourynaled in the machine and adapted to be actuated.

therein'to serve athree-fold purpose, namely'hold machine until its end rests against the" stop, serve as a. die for forming the Wire, and serve as a knife for severing: the completed form from the 7 wire stock. Each end of the bar is provided with.

the necessary edge and contour for serving these purposes so that it may be reversed. when either endbecomes worn.

The bar. 20 is pivotally connected to the lever 2i by means of a head 22. The head 22 is rigidly attached to one end of the bar 29, so that it may serve to gage the depth to which the bar 20 may be reciprocated into the machine and in engage- The head 22 consists of a cylindrical shaped form, one end of which is drilled to receive the end of the bar 20, and the other end is drilled and tapped to receive aset screw 23. The set screw is threadedinto the head 22 until it bears against the end of the bar 20. A second set screw 24 is. provided in the head 22 and this set screw threads into the side of the head 22 and against the side of the bar 28. for insuring a stable connection of thehead 22 with the bar 20. 1

One end ofthe lever or. bar 2i is pivotally connected to the head 22 so that it may actuate the same for reciprocating. the bar 20. The end 'of the lever 2|, opposite its connection with the head 22, is provided. with a projection 25fwhich extends into a face cam 26. The cam 25 is keyed to the shaft 6 and driven thereby. Thecam 26 serves to actuatethe bar 20. so that itwillfirst hold the wire 18 and then sever thebentportion This portion 15 of the of the wire from the stock. A tip 21 is provided on the end of the bar 26 which serves as a die in forming the hook portion of the bend in forming the wire buckle. The lever 2! is pivotally connected to the member l5 of the machine.

After the bar 20 is actuated so that it engages and holds the Wire 58 against the stop block IT, a swinging arm 28 engages the Wire intermediate the stop and bar 23 and bends the wire around a stationary forming block 29. This is the first bend in forming the buckle. The arm 28 is preferably made in the form of a hook having an axle 30 made rigid therewith and projecting at right angles from the arc thereof. A pinion 3| is made rigid with the axle 3zi and this whole assembly is journaled in the machine so that it may be actuated by one of the cams which are keyed to the axle 8. A rack 32 is slidably mounted in the body of the machine so that it may be actuated by one of the cams and drive the pinion 3| so as toswing the arm 2i3'for forming the first bend of the wire. The axle 30 and its pinion 3| are positioned at a slight angle to the longitudinal center of the wire it so that the swing of the arm 28 will direct the end of the wire Hi to bend around the forming block 29 and place the end of the wire to one side of the body of the wire, as shown in Fig. 5, thus forming an approximate rectangular form of a bend. One end of the rack 32 is pivotally connected to a lever 33. The other end of the lever 33 is pivotally anchored to the frame of the machine, and intermediate its end, is a projection 34 which extends into and is adapted to ride in the face groove of a cam wheel 35. The cam wheel 35 is keyed t the shaft 6 of" the machine and is adapted to be driven thereby. When the cam 35 actuates the lever 33 and its rack 32, the arm 28 will be moved to. bend the wire it) into. an approximate rectangular form.

When the oscillating arm 28 as. shown in Fig. 3, hasbeen actuated, to bend the wire,the wire is then bent at right angles to the first bendby means. of an arm 3%. The arm 36 isrotatably mounted in the. body E: of the machineand positioned around the reciprocating arm 29. The arm 36' is provided with a. cylindrical shaft made rigid therewith and adapted to fit around the rod 26. A pinion 31 is keyed to the hollow cylindrical shaft 38. and adapted to mesh with and bedriven by means of. a rack bar 38. One end of the bar or rack 38 is pivotally connected to a lever 4c. The end of the lever 43', opposite its connection with therack 33, is provided with a projection M which extends into and rides a face.

groove of the cam 42. The cam 42. is. keyed to rack 38. and its cooperating parts. The lever 40 is preferably formed to serve as a crank arm with its bend pivotally connected to a portion of the body of the machine; When the cam wheel 42, and its cooperating parts, actuate the arm 35" to bend the wire l-8 thewire is bent to form a hooklike part it, or form the severed end. When-the arm 36 isoscillated to form thehook portion l8 of the buckle, the first bend or the rectangular form of the wire it is moved off of the stationary block 25. The rectangular form of the Wire l8 was first formed on the block 23 adjacent the end of the block by an arm 28 having an axis positioned at right angles'to the axis of the arm 36. This arrangement permits the arm 36 to remove the rectangular form of the buckle from its forming block 29 as it forms the hook 123. After this hook-like, bend. it is made inthe Wire the buckle is completed and the bar 20 is further moved, as explained above, to sever the buckle from the wire stock thus completing the forming operation of the machine.

The structure of the machine permits a continuous rotation of the cams and gears during the forming and severing of the buckle. The wire it may be fed to the machine through a forming mechanism for pressing and forming the same into an approximate square in cross section. This mechanism consists of a pair of feed wheels l and 9, similar to those described above, but provided with V shaped grooves in their outer peripheries, as shown in Fig. 12. a

Fig. 14 illustrates a method of using the tip of the bar 29 for a forming member for the bend E8 of the wire 18, as well as the use of a tube conduit 4 for the wire l8 cooperating with the severing edge of the bar 20 for cutting the buckle from the wire stock. The end of the tube 45 is. out oif at an angle to its longitudinal center and provided with a notch or cavity 55 for receiving the end of the wire 58, as it is bent to its place adjacent to and at right angle to the wire, as it passes through the conduit 44. The notch 435 serves to hold the end of the wire it in place as the bar 213 is actuated to sever the completed buckle from the'wire stock. When the bar 2! is moved to sever the wire, the flat side of bar 50 adjacent the end of the tube conduit M, will cooperate with the flat end surface of the tube to act as a knife for cutting the wire it.

In the spring tension of the member ii, a vertical bar 66 is made rigid with the frame of the machine and adapted to extend through the spring end of the member H. A stop 51 is positioned on the bar 46, beneath the bar H and adjustably positioned thereon so as to limit the downward movement of the member ll and its wheels 9 and l, to the extent that the same will not bind the wheel I, when the wheel I is permitted to rotate without moving the wire it. The spring M is positioned around the bar iii and is interposed between the member H and the adjusting nut 48 of the rod or bar 46 so that the tension on the member ll may be varied.

The actuating cams 26, 35, and 42, and the feed wheel I, all being keyed to the same shaft 6 necessitates the forming of each of their actuating surfaces so that they will be distributed around their axis in a cooperating manner, as illustrated in Fig. 4. This arrangement permits the continuous-intermittent action of all forming, holding, and severing actions of the machine without an intermittent action of the main actuating shaft 6. The continuous action of the machine driven shaft 6 cooperates and drives mechanism to move the wire l8 to the stop ll, move the bar 20 to hold the wire 18, oscillate the arm 28 to form the first bend or form the rectangular form. of the buckle, bend the rectangular form to form the hook I8, and again move the bar Zll to sever the completed buckle from the wire stock. The sectors of the shaft used in performing these functions, in the order named, may be diagrammatically illustrated as shown in Fig. i.

The body of the machine or the block l is provided with a grooved plate or conduit 4 for receiving the wire it and directing it to the point where it is bent to form the buckle, shown in Fig. 6. The end of the conduit 44, adjacent the combination unit 26, is formed to serve as a cutting edge that cooperates with a cutting portion of the member 20 for severing the completed wire buckle from the wire stock.

In Figs. 15 to 18 inclusive, the various portions of the member 2t! are illustrated to show parts used for holding, forming, and severing the wire it. The body of the member 20 is preferably round in cross-section. The lower end of the member 26 is cut-away to form a surface 53 which is adapted to be moved adjacent the cutting end of the plate or conduit M. The ex" treme lower end 21 of the member 28 serves to contact with and hold the wire it while the wire is being bent to form the buckle. This portion 55 also serves as a die to form the wire it as it is being bent, by the member 3%. A portion 52 of the bar Ed is formed into a cutting edge to cooperate with the cutting end of the conduit Mi in severing the completed wire buckle from the wire stock.

In Fig. 14 the rectangular forming die and the member 29 of the machine is shown in an inverted position. The wire is shown in dotted outline indicating its bend around the rectangular forming die 29. From the die 29, the wire it is bent around the portion 21 of the member 2% by the member 36, as shown in full lines, Fig. 14. After the wire I8 is bent, as shown in full line, the member 20 is actuated to sever the completed wire buckle from the wire stock as previously described.

This application is filed as a substitute for application Serial No. 718,422, filed March 31, 1934, and subsequently abandoned.

What I claim is:

1. A wire working machine including a wire feeder, a forming block and a die, said feeder being adapted to feed wire over said formin block of said machine, means for bending said wire around said block to form an approximate rectangular form, means for bending said rectangular form around said die and off of the end of said block for forming a loop in said wire adjacent to and at right angles to said form, and a means for actuating said die for severing said bent wire from the stock thereof.

2. A wire working machine for forming cotton bale tie buckles and the like including a wire feeder, a stop and a pair of dies, said feeder being adapted to direct Wire into said machine and against said stop which is adjustably disposed therein, a plurality of arms disposed in said machine and adapted to be actuated for bending the ends of said wire around one of said dies for forming an approximate rectangular form, said arms being adapted to bend said rectangular form around a second die, and means for actuating said second die for severing said form from the stock of wire.

3. A wire working machine including a wire feeder, a stop, a stationary form and a movable die, said feeder being adapted to direct wire into said machine and against said stop, said die being disposed in said machine and adapted to hold said wire therein while the same is being formed, means for bending the end of said wire around said form, means for bending said wire off of said form at right angles to said first bend and around said die, and means for actuating said holding die for severing said bent form from the stock of wire.

4. A wire working machine including an adjustable stop adapted to receive the end of a wire directed therein, a die disposed in said machine and adapted to hold said wire against said stop, means interposed between said die and saidstopfcr forming said wire into an approximate rectangular form, means for moving said rectangular form for forming a loop in said wire at right angles to the longitudinal sides of said rectangular form, means for severing said formed Wire from the stock thereof, a plurality of continuously rotating cams opera.- tively disposed in said machine for actuating said directing, holding, forming and severing 'means.

5. A wire working machine including a feeder and a stop operatively carried in said machine, said feeder being adapted to abut the end of said wire against said stop, means for holding said wire against said stop, means intermediate said stop and said holding means for bending said wire into an approximate rectangular form, means for bending sai-d rectangular form to form a hook around the end of said wire and at right: angles to the longitudinal sides of said rectangular form, and said holding means being adapt-ed to sever said bent form of wire from thestock of wire fed to saidmachine.

6. A- wire working machine including a feeder V and a stop operatively carried in said machine,

.Wire feeder and an adjustable die, saidfeeder being adapted to direct wire into said machine and against said stop, a die carried in said machineand adapted to hold said wire within said machine, a forming block rigidly disposed in said machine, means for bending the end of said Wire around said forming block, means for bending said wire around said first-named die, and means for actuating said first-named die for severing said bent form of Wire from the stock thereof.

8. A wire working machine for forming cotton bale tie buckles and the like, including a wire feeder and. a stop,'said feeder being adapted to direct wireinto said-,machine so that the end of the same will be brought to and against said stop which is adjustably carried in said maclnne, means for holding said wire against said stop, a block carried in said machine, means interposed between said stop and said holding means for bending said wire around said block, means for bending said wire around said holding means-and at right angles to said first-named bend,- and means for severing said bent portion of said wire from the stock thereof.

9. A wire working machine including a feeder adapted. to direct wire to a plurality of bending arms operatively disposed therein, means cooperating with one of said arms for severing the bent wire'from the stock thereof, a plurality of cams rotatably mounted in said machine and provided with-a common drive shaft, said cam being adapted to actuate said feeder, severing means and bending. arms, and means for actuating said shaft.

10. Awire working machine including an adjustable stop for receiving the end of a wire direct into the machine, means adjacent said stop for bending said wire into an approximate rectangular form, means for bending said rectangular form of Wire so as to'form a loop in the end of said. wire and at right angles to said rectangular form, and means for severing said bent. formiof wire from the stock thereof.

- EZRA A. FRANTZ. 

